Plant support



Oct. 25, 1938.

N. C. WADE PLANT SUPPORT Filed Nov( 19, 193e Patented Oct. 25, 1938agenzia PLANT sUrron'f Newman C. Wade.A n y, Application Novemberiari'sscgseriaim5111325 .I

3 claims. (o1. 47v y47) This invention relates to an improved means forsecuring the stem'of a plant or the like in guided relationship to a xedsupporting standard such as a st ake or rod driven into the ground inproximity to the plant which it is' desired to support. Y

Y An object of the invention is the provision of 'an improved plantsupport having means for securing the same in fixed relationship to asupporting standard and equipped also with means for guiding'a plantstem and retaining the same against undue bending or swaying.

Another object is the provision of a plant support of this characterhaving a wide range of adjustability and one that is light and durablein character.

Other objects will be apparent from the description. Y.

L In the drawingf n Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment ofthe invention as mounted in service.

Figure 2 is a plan view ofthe strip orfblank `from which the support orfastener, as shown in Figure '1, is formed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative embodiment ofthe invention as applied inservice.

Figure 4 is a group plan view of the elements comprising the embodimentshown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a further alternative embodiment of fastenerstrip.

In all forms of the invention the structure comprises a stay having acentral shank portion arranged at its opposite ends with seats adaptedrespectively to be engaged with a xed supporting standard and the stemof a plant or the like. 'Ihe device preferably is constructed of lightdurable metal and may be in strip or wire form. Likewise, the device maybe constructed of malleable metal so that it is flexible or in someinstances it may be constructed of sti metal possessing resilientcharacteristics.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the support comprises a stayI2 arranged to be secured upon a fixed supporting standard I3, such as awooden stake or the like that is driven into the ground, to extendlaterally therefrom for guiding and supporting engagement at itsopposite end with the stem or stalk I4 of a plantor the like.

The stay I2 comprises in this embodiment aV` malleable metal striphaving a central shank portion I5 formed at each end with an integralreduced longitudinal tongue I6 and I1 respectively.

face of thebody of the strip is' formed to provide V'ene'd-grippingsurface having 'piercing characteri Asshown in Figure 1, the stay isemployed in and plant stems.

v The fiat -shank I5, atpointsspacedequifdis- Vtantly'fromv itstransverse center,` isfo'rrned with .series of transverse parallelkeeper slots I8 and I9, v l

respectively, the series I8 being disposed substantially intermediatethetransverse` center of;V 5 the shank and its plant engaging 'end'carrying thetongue' I6 while the series-.I9 is disposed substantiallyintermediate the v'transverse center of the shankand its -standardengaging end carrying the"tonguel1. Between the outer endsloi thevrespective Series'and the ends of the Vstrip shanks, Vthe material ofthestrip is imperforate as is also the central-portion;

At Vthe standardV engaging" end of the stay, one

a plurality of lpiercingor gripping elements` which extend substantiallyover the entire face of the stripbetweenthe series of keeper -s'lots I9andthel adjacent end 'of the 'st'rip.`-l Thepier'cing elements arepreferably-inthel `form vof small 20 points extendingflaterally'from thevstrip face. They may,' however, consist of serrations or other suitablemeans that! will provide a roughistics. f i

-servicebyI disposing "the shank vI 5' at the proper horizontalelevation upon the supporting stake I3 and its stake engaging endportion is then looped around the body of the stake in closerelationship in a manner forciblyI to engage the entrantV portion 20into the body of the wood from which the stake is formed. This loopingof the shank end provides a loop or seat 2| that is xed rmly to thestake. The tongue I'I is passed through one of the keeper slots I9 andthe loop is drawn tightly upon the body of the stake Whereafter thetongue is turned over in the usual manner to secure the same.

At its other or plant engaging end the body of the strip between thekeeper slots I8 and the end of the strip is looped loosely around theplant stem I4 to provide a guide loop or seat 22 and the tongue I6 ispassed through an appropriate keeper slot I8 and turned over to securethe stay in position. It will be noted that the diameter of the loop 22is purposely made in excess of the diameter of the plant stem sothat theplant stem is loosely guided and retained in the seat provided by thisloop.v A feature of the invention resides in the fact that a relativelylarge number of keeper slots are provided so that the stay is capable ofa wide range of adjustment with respect to varyinglsizes of supportingstakes In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 the stay comprises aat intermediate shank portion 23 having reduced longitudinal tongues 24and 25 integral therewith at each end, these tongues being arranged tobe passed through selected keeper slots in separate seat members orloops 26 and 21 respectively.

The member 26 comprises a malleable metal band of a width correspondingto the width of the intermediate shank portion .23 and having adjacentone end a series of transverse parallel keeper slots 28, one of whichreceives the tongue 24 of the intermediate shank. At its opposite endthe band 26 is provided with an integral securing tongue 30 that isadapted to be passed through another of the keeper slots 28 when thebandis looped around the supporting standard I3. The inner face of theloop member 26 is formed with piercing elements 3l which bite into thebody of the standard I3 and retain the loop in flxed position withrespectthereto.

The plant stem engaging loop 21 is similar to the loop 26 except that itdoes not carry the piercing elements.` This loop 21 comprises a bandthat is looped loosely around the plant stem I4, the band being-provided adjacent one end with a series of transverse parallel keeperslots 32 through which lare respectively passed the attaching tongue 25of the intermediate shank portion 23 and the securing tongue 33 whichextends longitudinally -from the opposite end of the band. In thisembodiment the stay comprises a three part assembly in which therespective plant engaging loop 21 and-the standard engaging loop 26are'connected by the intermediate shank portion 23, the plurality ofkeeper slots providing means 1of adjusting the lineal length of the staywith respect tothe standard and plant stem.

The form of stay illustrated in Figure comprises a malleable metal stripor band 34 formed at its standard engaging end with-a reduced integrallongitudinal securng tongue '35 that vis adapted to -be passed throughaiselected one of a series of transverse parallel keeper slots 36provided in the body of the strip inwardly of theend a sucient distanceto provide for looping the ybody oi the strip around the supporting-standard when engaged therewith. Between the keeper slot 36 and thetongue 35 the body of the strip is formed with a plurality of piercingelements 31 for biting engagement into the body of a standard with whichthe stay is associated.

At its opposite end portion, comprising the plant stem engaging end, thebody of the strip is formed with a longitudinal series of closely spaceddie cut tongues 38 that extend from the end of the strip into proximityto a series of transverse parallel keeper slots 39 provided in the stripbody. In'service the portion of the strip having Ythe tongues 38 whichnormally lie flush with the strip is looped around a plant stem in looserelationship and an appropriate one of the tongues 38 is then bentoutwardly of the plane of the strip to be passed through one of thekeeper slots 39 and turned over to secure the connection.

I claim:

1. A plant supporting stay comprising a band of malleable metal, a shortreduced tongue integral with and extending from each end thereof, andsaid band having transverse parallel keeper slots thereinsubstantially'midway between each end and its transverse center wherebyto receive the tongue on the adjacent end when that end of the band islooped.

2. A plant supporting stay comprising a pair of malleable metal bandsbent intermediate their ends to provide loops, one endportion of eachband having a series of transverse parallel keeper slots therein, theother end of each `band having a. locking tongue for engagement with akeeper slot, and-an intermediate strip between said loops, said striphaving at each end a bendable locking tongue detachably engageable witha loop member keeper slot.

3. A plant supporting stay comprising a malleable metal band having areduced tongue extending from one end thereof, a series of keeper slotsin said band spaced inwardly from the tongue, a plurality of tongues cutin the opposite end vportion of said band in a longitudinal'series,

and a second series of keeper slots in said band vat the inner end ofsaid series of tongues.

NEWMAN C WADE.

